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Explain me the 'Fender is God' thing
- Thread starter Drunk Heffalump
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It's not Fender the current company, it's Fender the guy and his original company.
One dude pointed out that Leo didn't invent the first fretted electric bass, that may be true (I don't know) but ...
You have to look at what was available before the Fender bass. Even during the first decade or so of Fender, in the 50's and 60's - the "competition" was basically junk. Vox? Hofner? Other crappy brands that have died. Even Gibson was basically crap. The EB3, etc was kinda ok for a certain niche but you really can't compare it to a P or a Jazz.
Leo invented and defined the 34 in scale bass. There was a lot of experimenting, trial and error, tradeoffs, input from musicians etc. that went into choosing that scale length and Leo chose it and it's the standard.
Leo invented and defined his bass bridge. You may say the Baddass or whatever (which are refinements of Leo's design) are better, but before Fender, there wasn't a bass bridge with string-by-string adjustable intonation and height. The competition was just a wood or steel bar that you could angle adjust (if you were lucky). Look at the early/mid 60's EB bass bridge. It's a crude piece of crap.
Leo invented the Jazz bass pickups and spacing.
Leo invented the P bass pickup and placement.
And a lot else.
All these things are copied, tweaked and in mass production today.
These things didn't always exist for Lakland and all these companies to draw from.
The J and P bass designs are taken for granted today but they weren't always there.
They didn't come into being magically.
They were invented by Leo Fender.
One dude pointed out that Leo didn't invent the first fretted electric bass, that may be true (I don't know) but ...
You have to look at what was available before the Fender bass. Even during the first decade or so of Fender, in the 50's and 60's - the "competition" was basically junk. Vox? Hofner? Other crappy brands that have died. Even Gibson was basically crap. The EB3, etc was kinda ok for a certain niche but you really can't compare it to a P or a Jazz.
Leo invented and defined the 34 in scale bass. There was a lot of experimenting, trial and error, tradeoffs, input from musicians etc. that went into choosing that scale length and Leo chose it and it's the standard.
Leo invented and defined his bass bridge. You may say the Baddass or whatever (which are refinements of Leo's design) are better, but before Fender, there wasn't a bass bridge with string-by-string adjustable intonation and height. The competition was just a wood or steel bar that you could angle adjust (if you were lucky). Look at the early/mid 60's EB bass bridge. It's a crude piece of crap.
Leo invented the Jazz bass pickups and spacing.
Leo invented the P bass pickup and placement.
And a lot else.
All these things are copied, tweaked and in mass production today.
These things didn't always exist for Lakland and all these companies to draw from.
The J and P bass designs are taken for granted today but they weren't always there.
They didn't come into being magically.
They were invented by Leo Fender.
Good post! I love Fender basses. They defined the sound of electric bass in so many styles. Though, they're not the end all, they are the be all for thousands of bassists world wide. They are solid, musical instruments. I'm proud to have owned--and still own--several.
Love your train of thought!
Fenders set the standard, period. Now whether or not a bassist likes the Fender look, feel and sound is another issue. And as I have said, ad nauseum, I like Fenders, but I can also understand why some guys and gals do not. More choices for all, how can that be bad?
And one more thing ...
Leo Fender did his (Fender company) work in the 50's and 60's. I believe he sold Fender company to CBS in 1968. That means all his Fender company designs were done in less that 2 decades.
Less than 2 decades to create the Telecaster, Stratocaster, Jag, P-bass, Jazz Bass, Mustang Bass with all their innovations. Jeez, do you know how much work it took to create just the Strat vibrato? That was the first and only one that really worked (and kept your guitar in tune) for DECADES. Other inventors would be lucky to have one such thing to their name. That was just one in the pile for Leo. The split P-bass pickup and the sweet spot to locate it. There's a whole story behind just that and why he wasn't satisfied with the original single coil p-bass pickup (which in itself is cool, unique and classic). The 34 in scale length - nobody has changed that because Leo NAILED it. It's the best balance for a 4 string.
Remember, Leo wasn't going to Allparts or Warmoth to get bridges, tuners, pickups, necks bodies, scale lengths, etc. He had to INVENT EVERYTHING. Even those Kluson tuners he used on his basses DIDN'T EXIST. HE SPECIFIED to Kluson what he needed and they built it.
Then there are all the amps. All those classic tube amps. And Tolex to cover them - yet another Fender first, made by General Tire to Leo Fender's specifications. How about the Vibrato circuit Leo put in his guitar amps? How about the Reverb circuit?
Look at the control panel on the top or the 50's tweed 4x10Bassman amp. Look familiar? The Marshall Super Lead and Super Bass plexi's were an EXACT copy of it. From the input layout, to the controls and their order to which way the switches flipped. That's what Jim Marshal was trying to do - MAKE A FENDER BASSMAN COPY. It was by chance that 6L6 tubes weren't available in England so he had to use EL34 and that he had to get his own transformers (and the Marshall amp was born).
Then there were all the other things like his backing of Rhodes to develop his Electric Piano, organ bass pedals ...
And all this was completed in 1968. 1968! Todays competion is competing with a dead guy who hung it up in 1968! I certainly hope they could slightly improve on ONE of HIS designs in all that time.
Then in the 70's the old guy came out of retirement and created Music Man and it's bass and guitars and amps. He didn't go to Duncan or Bartolini and order a "MM" pickup. IT DIDN'T EXIST. HE HAD TO INVENT IT. And he improved his fender bridge by making it more massive and other things and the Music Man bass was born. Then he retired again.
Then he came out of retirement again and created G&L and their basses and guitars.
Then I gues he retired again and died.
This really doesn't scratch the surface either. He really did that much. He really did kick that much ass. It really is that unequal. One guy.
That's why Leo "Fender is God"
Leo Fender did his (Fender company) work in the 50's and 60's. I believe he sold Fender company to CBS in 1968. That means all his Fender company designs were done in less that 2 decades.
Less than 2 decades to create the Telecaster, Stratocaster, Jag, P-bass, Jazz Bass, Mustang Bass with all their innovations. Jeez, do you know how much work it took to create just the Strat vibrato? That was the first and only one that really worked (and kept your guitar in tune) for DECADES. Other inventors would be lucky to have one such thing to their name. That was just one in the pile for Leo. The split P-bass pickup and the sweet spot to locate it. There's a whole story behind just that and why he wasn't satisfied with the original single coil p-bass pickup (which in itself is cool, unique and classic). The 34 in scale length - nobody has changed that because Leo NAILED it. It's the best balance for a 4 string.
Remember, Leo wasn't going to Allparts or Warmoth to get bridges, tuners, pickups, necks bodies, scale lengths, etc. He had to INVENT EVERYTHING. Even those Kluson tuners he used on his basses DIDN'T EXIST. HE SPECIFIED to Kluson what he needed and they built it.
Then there are all the amps. All those classic tube amps. And Tolex to cover them - yet another Fender first, made by General Tire to Leo Fender's specifications. How about the Vibrato circuit Leo put in his guitar amps? How about the Reverb circuit?
Look at the control panel on the top or the 50's tweed 4x10Bassman amp. Look familiar? The Marshall Super Lead and Super Bass plexi's were an EXACT copy of it. From the input layout, to the controls and their order to which way the switches flipped. That's what Jim Marshal was trying to do - MAKE A FENDER BASSMAN COPY. It was by chance that 6L6 tubes weren't available in England so he had to use EL34 and that he had to get his own transformers (and the Marshall amp was born).
Then there were all the other things like his backing of Rhodes to develop his Electric Piano, organ bass pedals ...
And all this was completed in 1968. 1968! Todays competion is competing with a dead guy who hung it up in 1968! I certainly hope they could slightly improve on ONE of HIS designs in all that time.
Then in the 70's the old guy came out of retirement and created Music Man and it's bass and guitars and amps. He didn't go to Duncan or Bartolini and order a "MM" pickup. IT DIDN'T EXIST. HE HAD TO INVENT IT. And he improved his fender bridge by making it more massive and other things and the Music Man bass was born. Then he retired again.
Then he came out of retirement again and created G&L and their basses and guitars.
Then I gues he retired again and died.
This really doesn't scratch the surface either. He really did that much. He really did kick that much ass. It really is that unequal. One guy.
That's why Leo "Fender is God"
For one thing, the tuner story. Fender used existing tuners made for upright bass and modified the mounting plate and string post to fit the Precision headstock. It worked and it was expedient. It wasn't quite "Allparts" but the basic tuners did already exist.
Sending out one of the modified tuners or specifying tuners based on those modifications is not that much of a stretch.
There are other myths, assumptions, and exaggerations as well. I suggest those wishing to research it consult any or all of the several books on the topic.
Leo Fender did some good things (and some not so good) and did infact get some patents but let's not lose perspective.
My First bass was a 1972 Fender Jazz bass which I bought around 1982. Since then I have had Ibanez,Yamaha,Modulus, etc But I always come back to Fender.
I said he specified to Kluson what he wanted and they built it.
Yeah, they made open gear tuners for uprights. Leo saw that, thought they could be adapted to his bass guitar, contacted them, gave them his spec's and got it done. The point is, they didn't exist for bass guitar and he made it happen.
BTW, I don't play Fenders. I play Spectors and a Ric but I'm an admirer of Leo Fender and his original company. He was amazingly creative and productive. He knew how to make things happen. He was a fountainhead of ideas, had know-how, had musician friends who he listened to and reached out and made the contacts he needed to get things done. It's damn rare.
Yeah, they made open gear tuners for uprights. Leo saw that, thought they could be adapted to his bass guitar, contacted them, gave them his spec's and got it done. The point is, they didn't exist for bass guitar and he made it happen.
BTW, I don't play Fenders. I play Spectors and a Ric but I'm an admirer of Leo Fender and his original company. He was amazingly creative and productive. He knew how to make things happen. He was a fountainhead of ideas, had know-how, had musician friends who he listened to and reached out and made the contacts he needed to get things done. It's damn rare.
That could be an image thing. Many believe you just can't profile with an Ibby...as if having a Fender guarantees you're good...and even if you aren't so what?...at least you'll look like a real bass player if you have a Fender hanging off your shoulder.
You could probably go on all day and night about why
Fender is God. But, the bottom line is:
Leo Fender rules- Everyone else drools.
Fender is God. But, the bottom line is:
Leo Fender rules- Everyone else drools.
So is it about profiling or actually playing? And who should you look like a real bass player to? just asking.
And as for ibby basses I think they look nice so why many believe you can't profile with them?
Big whoop. Like I said, it's not that much of a stretch.
Nothing "god-like" about it.
And BTW, Leo could have specified a more guitar-like tuner but he went to Kluson and had them make a bass guitar tuner with a big oversized open gear and the big oversized clover grabber - like an upright.
Think about it. Those tuners were not to scale with the rest of the instrument. They made a statement - This is a BASS.
They were the one thing on Leo's new bass guitar that looked remotely bass(upright)-like. That wasn't an accident.
Think about it. Those tuners were not to scale with the rest of the instrument. They made a statement - This is a BASS.
They were the one thing on Leo's new bass guitar that looked remotely bass(upright)-like. That wasn't an accident.
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